Tub Grinders/Bale Processors For Sale

About Tub Grinders & Bale Processors

Tub grinders and bale processors quickly cut or chop round and/or square bales of hay, straw, or forage into small pieces. They then either dump the loose material for feeding livestock or eject it at a high speed for bedding or to cover an area. Processed material can also be used for erosion control, waste water lagoon odor control, and pelleting and briquetting for biomass and biofuel applications.

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Highline CFR650 Bale Pro Bale Processor

Many cattle operations tout the benefits of tub grinders and bale processors. Chief among those benefits are reduced labor and cows that consume more and waste less of the hay, straw, or other material being ground. In addition, the processing often blows away dust, mildew, and mold and aerates the hay to make it more palatable for the cattle. Tub grinders can also grind grain as needed.

Processing & Distribution

Sometimes referred to as “hay bale unrollers,” tub grinders and bale processors use a hammerbank, a flail drum, or a series of rotors, crossbeaters, or knives to process bales. Different manufacturers build their products with direct-drive, chain-drive, or belt-drive grinding mechanisms; each has pros and cons.

Tub grinders and bale processors primarily come in towable or three-point hitch mounted versions. The machines get their power either from the tractor’s power take-off (PTO) or from an onboard diesel engine or electric motor. Tractor-powered models have minimum requirements such as 60 or 110 horsepower (45 to 82 kilowatts) at the PTO. Stronger models can handle tougher materials such as cornstalks.

Many tub grinders and bale processors use a blower, a discharge chute, a conveyor, or other mechanism to distribute the processed product into pens, bunks, or other areas for feeding or bedding. Vermeer says that models that place the feed in windrows can give all the cattle equal feeding room. Other styles of grinders and processors can blow chopped straw up to 50 to 100 ft (15 to 30.5 meters) or more into pens, sheds, and stalls.

Feeding & Twine Cutting

Some tub grinders and bale processors have loading forks with which to lift bales—even large round bales frozen to the ground, or to each other—and place them in the hopper. Other models are meant to be fed by another tractor.

Haybuster offers some tub grinders that have grapple arms to pick up bales and put them in the hopper. They also boast enclosed, elevated cabs to give the operator a commanding view that’s up out of the dust.

Dealing with the twine or netting on bales can be troublesome, but manufacturers have developed solutions. Highline’s patented Twine Cutter, for example, reportedly makes it easier to remove bale twine or net wrap from the bale processor. Vermeer’s BPX9010 bale processor, meanwhile, has a rotor cleaner attachment on the cut control bar. The operator can set it to a self-cleaning position to reduce excessive net and twine on the rotor, or to a manual cleaning position to reduce net or twine in the feed.

Modern Features

Highline Manufacturing’s optional Grain Tank with metered grain insertion (MGI) can add nutrients to the feed such as for total mixed rations (TMR) production. Vermeer, Teagle, and others offer bale processors that specialize in consistent cut lengths for optimal digestibility by livestock.

Teagle and Highline are among the manufacturers that offer weighing systems to give the operator accurate insight on the moisture content of each bale. Teagle and others also make convenient remote controls available for the operator to use anywhere in the immediate area.

Find The Right Tub Grinder Or Bale Processor

Top manufacturers of new and used tub grinders and bale processors available on Tractorhouse.com include Bale King, Haybuster, Highline, Hustler, KUHN, Roto Grind, Teagle, Vermeer, and others. Popular models on the market include the Haybuster Balebuster 2650 and 2660, Highline’s CFR650 Bale Pro series, and the Vermeer BPX9010.